Freer Gallery of Art Museum

Address: Freer Gallery of Art (Smithsonian), 1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20560, USA

Website: https://asia.si.edu/visit/freer-sackler/

Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-5:30pm (closed Mondays)

Admission: Free

The Freer Gallery of Art is a Smithsonian museum in Washington, D.C., specializing in Asian art and the American collection bequeathed by industrialist Charles Lang Freer. The institution opened in the early 20th century to house Freer’s collection and today forms part of the Smithsonian’s Asian art complex.

Gallery highlights include the freestanding Peacock Room by James McNeill Whistler, extensive Chinese and Japanese ceramics, and collections of South and Southeast Asian art displayed across compact, focused galleries. The museum also presents nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American paintings from Freer’s bequest.

The Freer was created from Freer’s private collection and funds; the building and curatorial program were established to keep the collection intact and accessible. It functions as a research and exhibition center for Asian and American art and is managed as part of the Smithsonian Institution.

Located on the National Mall adjacent to other Smithsonian museums, the gallery is a short walk from the Washington Monument and Capitol area and is accessible by public transit.

• Admission: Operated by the Smithsonian Institution with free admission; the Freer shares programming and visitor flow with the neighboring Sackler/Arthur M. Sackler Gallery complex.
• Founding: The museum was founded on the collections bequeathed by industrialist Charles Lang Freer and opened to the public in the early 1920s.

What to See#

• Peacock Room: A small wood-paneled gallery housing James McNeill Whistler’s decorative ensemble known as the Peacock Room, one of the museum’s signature works.
• Asian Art Galleries: Galleries dedicated to Asian art including Chinese ceramics, Japanese screens and South and Southeast Asian works, arranged across thematic and chronological displays.
• American Art Galleries: Spaces presenting nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American art and the original Freer bequest, including paintings, works on paper and supporting documentation.

The Freer Gallery of Art is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as part of the Smithsonian Institution. Take the Washington Metro to Smithsonian station (Orange/Blue/Silver lines) and walk roughly 5-10 minutes along Jefferson Drive/Independence Avenue to the museum; L’Enfant Plaza (multiple lines) is also a 10-15 minute walk.

Driving and parking near the Mall are limited; many visitors use Metro, Metrobus, the DC Circulator, or National Mall pedestrian routes from nearby museums and federal buildings.

• Visit during weekday late morning or mid‑afternoon to avoid weekend crowds on the National Mall; the Freer's galleries are relatively small so timing matters for a quiet experience.
• Don't miss James McNeill Whistler's Peacock Room-the gallery's signature installation-and check the Smithsonian website for free docent‑led tours and gallery talks that deepen context for the Asian and American collections.
• Combine a visit with the nearby Sackler/Freer complex in one stop; the two buildings are adjacent and often covered by the same guided programs, making it easy to see complementary collections in one visit.